Portable insulated beverage carrier with neck strap

ABSTRACT

A portable thermally insulated beverage carrier having an adjustable neck strap with a cooling gel neck pouch, an external zippered pouch, and a collapsible base. The beverage carrier is made of a flexible insulating material such as neoprene. Other variations include a rigid base with an inset bottle opener, and a zippered base containing a detachable floating pedestal. Indicia can be placed on the beverage carrier to enhance its appearance.

This application claims benefit of Prov. No. 61/461,732 filed Jan. 24, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Applicants' invention relates to beverage handling and insulation. More specifically, the invention relates to a portable insulated beverage carrier for stowing and transporting beverages around the neck of the user while simultaneously cooling the neck of the user.

2. Background Information

Consumers currently have several options for insulated beverage carriers but very few effective options that allow for hands free operation. Existing insulated beverage carriers that allow for hands free operation are of poor design and construction and do not solve the problem at hand. These existing options are also limited in the range of their usefulness.

Furthermore, many of the activities that would necessitate hands free operation in a beverage carrier are outdoor activities that typically occur in warmer weather. This invention was created to solve the problems listed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a portable thermally insulated beverage carrier. The present invention is a portable insulated beverage carrier that allows the user to insulate and carry a beverage suspended around their neck which allows the user to perform other activities with their hands.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cooling neck strap that cools the neck of the user.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pocket for the user to carry small items such as cash, identification cards, and credit cards.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the user with a flotation device for the beverage carrier to allow the user to use the invention hands free in a body of water such as a swimming pool or lake.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a beverage bottle opener that is unobtrusive and allows the user to open bottles without carrying a separate bottle opener.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements of thereof in a portable thermally insulated beverage carrier for the purposes described which is superior to existing products, inexpensive, dependable, effective, and inconspicuous in accomplishing its intended objectives.

To meet the above objectives, the present invention provides a neoprene beverage carrier that has an adjustable neck strap. In a first embodiment, the neck strap contains a pouch adjacent to the back of the user's neck. The user can put a cooling gel pack into this pouch which cools the back of the user's neck. The carrier has a zippered exterior pocket for the user to carry small items such as cash, identification cards, and credit cards. The carrier is capable of collapsing when it does not contain a beverage and can be stored in the user's pocket or remain around the user's neck in this low-profile form.

An alternate embodiment of the invention has a rigid base with an inset bottle opener. This is a significant improvement over other carriers that require the user to have another tool attached to the carrier or on their person in order to open bottles.

Alternate embodiments of the invention contain a flotation device to keep the carrier with a full beverage floating upright in water. Therefore the invention allows for hands free use even if the user is in a swimming pool or lake. One of the floating embodiments has a zippered compartment at the base of the carrier that holds an inflatable ring which the user can remove and inflate. When placed around the outside of the carrier the ring will provide sufficient buoyancy to keep the beverage carrier upright. The ring can be moved up and down on the exterior of the carrier to adjust for the weight of the beverage. Another floating embodiment has a segmented ring that snaps to the bottom of the carrier. The ring segments are attached by elastic bands that allow the user to open the ring and place it on the outside of the carrier. Once again, the ring can be moved up and down on the exterior of the carrier to adjust for the weight of the beverage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 2. is a three-dimensional cutaway view of the rigid base embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 3. is a three-dimensional view of the collapsible base embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 4. is a collapsed view of the collapsible base embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 5. is a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the present invention with a flotation ring.

FIG. 6. is a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the present invention with an attachable flotation ring.

FIG. 7. is a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the present invention with an zippered compartment in the base of the container where a flotation device can be stored.

FIG. 8. is a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the present invention with an zippered compartment in the base of the container where a flotation device can be stored, showing the flotation in use.

FIG. 9. is a detailed view of an embodiment of the present invention with an attachable flotation ring, showing the flotation in its closed position and a method of attachment to the container.

FIG. 10. is a detailed view of the neck strap portion of the present invention, showing the neck pouch for the neck cooling insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention as depicted in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 10 is a thermally insulated beverage carrier with a cooling neck strap [1]. In this embodiment the insulating container is made of neoprene or aeroprene and the neck strap is made of a nylon material. In this embodiment of the invention, the neck strap is sewn [4] to the interior of the insulating container

on opposite sides. The neck strap [1] can also attach via alternative methods such as a button or a clip. The neck strap [1] is of sufficient length that when the user places it around his/her neck, the beverage carrier rests approximately against the upper chest of the user. The neck strap

attaches near the upper edge of the insulating container [2] which keeps the beverage carrier in an upright position when placed around the user's neck.

In this embodiment of the invention, the neck strap [1] is adjustable. The adjustment assembly [3] is a rigid material such as plastic and is known to those in the art. The neck strap

attaches to the adjustment assembly [3] at each end of the neck strap. The neck strap [1] is of sufficient length that when looped through the adjustment assembly [3], the user is able to lengthen or shorten the neck strap.

In this embodiment of the invention, the neck strap [1] has a cooling pocket [9] as depicted in FIG. 10. This cooling pocket [9] is made of a flexible material such as neoprene or spandex that expands [10] to allow a cooling pack to be inserted. The cooling pocket [9], as depicted in FIG. 10, of this preferred embodiment consists of two overlapping pieces of flexible material [9] that are sewn to the neck strap [1]. The overlap forms an opening running parallel to the neck band [1]. This opening can be stretched open easily by the user. This cooling pocket [9] is positioned on the downward side of the neck strap [1] such that when the user is wearing the beverage container the cooling pocket [9] is adjacent to the user's neck. Other embodiments of the invention utilize a pouch that is permanently fastened on three sides with an opening on the fourth side. This opening can be closed using a button, Velcro or equivalents. A cooling pouch is inserted into the cooling pocket which cools the user when he/she is wearing the beverage container. In this preferred embodiment, the cooling pouch contains gel which can be frozen and is known to those in the art. Alternate embodiments of the cooling pouch use water activated polymers which are known to those in the art. After activation the cooling pouch provides hours of cooling before requiring refreezing or reactivation. The cooling pocket and cooling pouch are complimentarily sized so the cooling pouch does not dislodge from the cooling pocket during regular usage.

The preferred embodiment has a zippered [6] pocket [5] attached to the exterior of the insulating container [2] as depicted in FIG. 3.

As depicted in FIG. 3, in this preferred embodiment, the insulating container [2] contains cutouts [8] in the base. These cutouts are on each side of the base, below where the neck strap [1] is attached [4] to the insulating container. These cutouts [8] allow the insulating container [2] to fold flat as depicted in FIG. 4.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and adaptations of the present invention as well as alternative embodiments of the present invention may be contemplated.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A beverage carrier, comprising: an insulating container consisting of an upper portion and a base portion, said upper portion made of a flexible insulating material that conforms to the shape of a beverage container, said base portion made of a flexible insulating material; and a neck strap assembly attached at both ends to said upper portion, said neck strap assembly of sufficient length to be worn around the neck of the consumer and having sufficient strength to support the weight of a full beverage container, wherein said neck strap assembly consists of a neck band and a length-adjusting means, said length-adjusting means for adjusting the length of said neck strap assembly.
 2. The beverage holder of claim 1, further comprising: a pocket attached to the exterior wall of said upper portion, wherein said pocket contains a closure means for closure of said pocket to allow for secure storage of articles within said pocket.
 3. The beverage holder of claim 2, further comprising: a cooling pouch engaged to said neck band, adjacent to said consumer's neck; and a cooling pack capable of insertion into said cooling pouch such that it lays against the neck of the consumer, wherein said cooling pouch contains a closure means for closure of said cooling pouch to secure said cooling pack within said cooling pouch.
 4. The beverage carrier of claim 3, further comprising: said base portion containing cutouts, said cutouts allowing said insulating container to collapse for storage when not in use by the consumer.
 5. The beverage carrier of claim 2, further comprising: said base portion made of a rigid material; and a bottle opening means inset in said base portion of said insulating container for bottle opening by consumer.
 6. A beverage carrier, comprising: an insulating container consisting of an upper portion and a base portion, said upper portion made of a flexible insulating material that conforms to the shape of the beverage container, said base portion made of an insulating material; a neck strap assembly attached at both ends to said upper portion, said neck strap assembly of sufficient length to be worn around the neck of the consumer and having sufficient strength to support the weight of a full beverage container, wherein said neck strap assembly consists of a neck band and a length-adjusting means, said length-adjusting means for adjusting the length of said neck strap assembly; a pocket attached to the exterior wall of said upper portion, wherein said pocket contains a closure means for closure of said pocket to allow for secure storage of articles within said pocket; a cooling pouch engaged to said neck band, adjacent to said consumer's neck; a cooling pack capable of insertion into said cooling pouch such that it lays against the neck of the consumer, wherein said cooling pouch contains a closure means for closure of said cooling pouch to secure said cooling pack within said cooling pouch; and a flotation ring consisting of semi-rigid segments connected by expandable straps, said flotation ring engaged to said base potion by a connection means for connecting said flotation ring to said base portion, wherein said flotation ring is capable of expanding to encircle the exterior of said upper portion, wherein said flotation ring is of sufficient size that when placed around said upper portion, said insulating container with a full beverage container will float upright in water.
 7. A beverage carrier, comprising: an insulating container consisting of an upper portion and a base portion, said upper portion made of a flexible insulating material that conforms to the shape of said beverage container, said base portion consisting of a foundation portion and a compartment portion, said foundation portion made of a flexible insulating material, said compartment portion made of a flexible insulating material, wherein said compartment portion contains a closure means for closure of said compartment portion to allow for storage within said compartment portion; a flotation ring, capable of storage within said compartment portion, wherein said consumer can manually inflate said flotation ring and place said flotation ring on the exterior of said upper portion, wherein said flotation ring is of sufficient size that when inflated and placed around said upper portion, said insulating container with a full beverage container will float upright in water; a neck strap assembly attached at both ends to said upper portion, said neck strap assembly of sufficient length to be worn around the neck of the consumer and having sufficient strength to support the weight of a full beverage container, wherein said neck strap assembly consists of a neck band and a length-adjusting means, said length-adjusting means for adjusting the length of said neck strap assembly; a pocket attached to the exterior wall of said upper portion, wherein said pocket contains a closure means for closure of said pocket to allow for secure storage of articles within said pocket; a cooling pouch engaged to said neck band, adjacent to said consumer's neck; and a cooling pack capable of insertion into said cooling pouch such that it lays against the neck of the consumer, wherein said cooling pouch contains a closure means for closure of said cooling pouch to secure the cooling pack within the cooling pouch.
 8. The beverage carrier of claim 7, further comprising: a fastening means for fastening said flotation ring to the interior of said compartment portion. 